Community Benefits Agreements Build Manitoba.

Community benefits agreements have been used since the 1960s to protect the safety, security and quality of Manitoba public sector construction jobs. They use Manitoban tax dollars to support work for Manitobans and create training and apprenticeship opportunities for underrepresented groups including youth, women, and Indigenous people. Add your voice to support Manitobans working on Manitoba projects.

Join us to protect Manitoba jobs.

Yes, I want to be an active participant in the campaign and receive updates from Manitoba Building Trades

To:

Premier Brian Pallister, Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler

Yes, I want to receive updates from Manitoba Building Trades

The Issue

The Government of Manitoba has sent a clear signal by introducing Bill 4 - damaging legislation that would ban the use of Community Benefits Agreements on publicly funded construction projects.

Community benefits agreements are the foundation of public construction projects in Manitoba. These agreements put quality first and create real benefits like local employment and training opportunities to grow a local skilled workforce. These agreements are a tool to maximize the social impact of public dollars spent on large scale infrastructure in Manitoba.

Why It Matters

Manitoba construction projects should benefit Manitobans. For years, Community benefits agreements have mandated local employment, high-quality construction, safety and exceptional value for Manitoba communities. Banning Community benefits agreements will result in fewer jobs for Manitobans, lower safety standards and fewer community benefits from Manitoba’s major construction projects.

Updates

How we plan to Keep Building Manitoba.

February 26, 2019

Campaign update. Last fall we received outpouring support from you and the entire building trades community during our campaign against Premier Pallister’s bill to ban the use of Project Labour Agreements in Manitoba. We thank all of you who followed the campaign and spoke up against a bill that will reduce opportunity and wages for skilled workers in Manitoba. Despite our best efforts, and a petition signed over 2400 times to end this bill, Brian Pallister’s government has remained...

Campaign update. Last fall we received outpouring support from you and the entire building trades community during our campaign against Premier Pallister’s bill to ban the use of Project Labour...

New Name, Same Bad Bill

November 22, 2018

Earlier this fall, thousands of Manitoban workers came together to say no to Brian Pallister’s proposed Bill 28, because it represented a real threat to our livelihoods and on-the-job safety. When the government failed to advance the bill to its second reading, we thought they had listened to our concerns. We thought they that realized attempting to ban project labour agreements goes against public interests and serves only fly-by-night contractors. After all, these agreements are the best way to...

Earlier this fall, thousands of Manitoban workers came together to say no to Brian Pallister’s proposed Bill 28, because it represented a real threat to our livelihoods and on-the-job safety....

Fact Check: Brian Pallister’s Government is Misleading Manitobans

November 6, 2018

Brian Pallister’s Government is Misleading Manitobans Nearly 2,000 Manitobans have written their government asking Brian Pallister to stop Bill 28. Manitobans have urged the government to withdraw Bill 28 and have made a strong case that this bill is bad for local jobs, project quality and workplace safety. So far, the government has not addressed any of the legitimate concerns we have raised. Instead, the Acting Deputy Minister of Infrastructure has been sending a letter to concerned Manitobans. In...

Brian Pallister’s Government is Misleading Manitobans Nearly 2,000 Manitobans have written their government asking Brian Pallister to stop Bill 28. Manitobans have urged the government to withdraw Bill 28 and...

Manitoba projects for Manitoba people

October 22, 2018

Not so long ago, major infrastructure projects in Northern Manitoba had very different consequences for Indigenous communities. Most often, construction projects, particularly hydro installations, meant displacement and hardship for northern communities and generated few jobs for affected residents. The project would be tendered out, and the contractor in charge would bring in workers from elsewhere. Some came from across Manitoba and often, they were from outside the province. Even when projects were covered by project labour agreements (PLAs), as...

Not so long ago, major infrastructure projects in Northern Manitoba had very different consequences for Indigenous communities. Most often, construction projects, particularly hydro installations, meant displacement and hardship for northern...

Speaker Series: Christina Thessien on life in the trades.

October 10, 2018

Project Labour Agreements give workers from all walks of life, including youth, veterans, women, new Canadians, Indigenous peoples and other underrepresented groups access to training, apprenticeships and career advancement. Bill 28 puts these opportunities at...

Project Labour Agreements give workers from all walks of life, including youth, veterans, women, new Canadians, Indigenous peoples and other underrepresented groups access to training, apprenticeships and career advancement. Bill...

Speaker Series: Marc Lafond on Project Labour Agreements

October 10, 2018

“Passing this Bill is short sighted. Staffing major projects is extremely difficult. Even contractors who have worked under the umbrella of a Project Labour Agreement have benefitted because the labour costs are set.” – Marc Lafond, Business Manager Local...

“Passing this Bill is short sighted. Staffing major projects is extremely difficult. Even contractors who have worked under the umbrella of a Project Labour Agreement have benefitted because the labour...

Rally to Stop Bill 28. Join us on October 3rd.

September 28, 2018

Yesterday marked the official start of our Stop Bill 28 campaign. We sent a clear message to Premier Pallister that Manitoba’s skilled workers reject this risky legislation. While yesterday was a success, there’s still a lot of work to be done including our rally at the Legislative Building on October 3rd. Only through a sustained effort can we persuade Brian Pallister and his caucus to stop this bill. When: Wednesday October 3, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Where: Legislative Assembly of...

Yesterday marked the official start of our Stop Bill 28 campaign. We sent a clear message to Premier Pallister that Manitoba’s skilled workers reject this risky legislation. While yesterday was...

Manitoba’s Skilled Workers Say No to Bill 28

September 25, 2018

Manitoba’s Skilled Workers Say No to Bill 28 Pallister government bill expected to end local hiring practices for Manitoba construction projects (September 25, 2018, Winnipeg, MB) Today, Manitoba Building Trades, which represents over 8,000 construction and trade professionals, expressed its unequivocal opposition to Bill 28, anti-labour legislation introduced by Brian Pallister’s government this past spring. The bill, which is expected to be debated in the fall legislative sitting, would ban Project Labour Agreements on public infrastructure projects. Project Labour...

We’re Ready. Join our Launch Event.

September 24, 2018

We’re ready. On September 25th, we will be launching our campaign to Stop Bill 28. Please join us as we present a united front against Brian Pallister’s government. Your attendance will further strengthen our message. Where 1919 General Strike Monument (Near the intersection of Market Avenue and Lily Street) When September 25, 10:00AM CST If you’re unable to attend, you can still contribute by visiting letsbuildmb.ca and using the form to send a message to Premier Pallister’s government. The form will be available...

We’re ready. On September 25th, we will be launching our campaign to Stop Bill 28. Please join us as we present a united front against Brian Pallister’s government. Your attendance will...

Protect Manitoba Jobs. Stop bill 28.

July 30, 2018

This spring, Brian Pallister’s government introduced Bill 28, a law that would ban the use of Project Labour Agreements on publicly funded construction projects. Project Labour Agreements are the foundation of public construction projects in Manitoba, as well as private and public builds across North America. These agreements put quality first and create community benefits like local employment and training opportunities to grow a local skilled workforce. Project Labour Agreements mandate Fair wages for all workers, union and...

This spring, Brian Pallister’s government introduced Bill 28, a law that would ban the use of Project Labour Agreements on publicly funded construction projects. Project Labour Agreements are the...

I write to show my support for the use of Community Benefits Agreements in Manitoba and to firmly state my opposition to bill 4 or any bill that bans Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs).
Like the thousands of other Manitobans, I continue to be disappointed by your government's pursuit to ban these important and beneficial agreements.
I thought your government had realized that such a ban would put the interests of out-of-province construction workers, and private contractors, ahead of those of Manitoba workers and communities.
CBAs are the number one tool used to prioritize local jobs and on-the-job training while setting standards so that our projects are built to last. Governments of all stripes have realized this and used CBAs since the 1960s.
This bill, if passed, would risk the safety, quality and reliability of public infrastructure projects and puts both our workers and communities at risk. CBAs provide pathways for more Manitobans to enter the middle class, economically contributing to the growth of our province.
Cheap labour is not skilled and skilled labour is not cheap. We need voices in the Manitoba government who will stand up for workers, both union and non-union. Our workers are second-to-none but deserve opportunities to learn and grow on the job. CBAs provide them with the tools they need.
I ask you to put Manitoba workers ahead of out-of-province construction companies looking to decrease spending at all costs.
I ask you to focus on both cost and quality so that our communities benefit from infrastructure projects today and into the future. Most importantly, I ask your government to Stop Bill 4.